The Royals round off their pre-season campaign at home to Premier League side, Crystal Palace at Madejski Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

It will be the first chance to see the Royals in their new 2018-19 kit, which is due to be revealed on Friday, as well as the first opportunity to see some of our new signings in action in RG2!

Goalkeeper Sam Walker became our fifth senior summer signing on Wednesday, alongside Dutch youngster Darren Sidoel, and we'll be welcoming the boys back from their intense pre-season training camp in Austria last week.

Performances have steadily improved over the course of the pre-season programme, with the squad earning two creditable draws against European opposition on the continent, and they've now returned to Hogwood to continue their preparations.

You can save money by getting your tickets in advance for Saturday's match, and you can save £2 by securing your seats prior to our game.

Of course, the bigger picture of the game is to get preparations in place for our opening Sky Bet Championship encounter at home to Derby County, but a positive performance and result will be welcomed against top tier opposition.

Travel

All of our usual travel options are available for this friendly match, with Park & Ride, matchday bus services and stadium parking all available.

Pre-season | Premier League Palace too good

Our final pre-season friendly ended in defeat to Roy Hodgson's Crystal Palace as Premier League opposition proved too good for the Royals today.

Sorloth lashes a left-footed effort high into the net to hand Palace a first half lead

Zaha adds a second when he meets a near post cross from Van Aanholt

Zaha scores a well-struck third from the edge of the area to make it 3-0

Tomkins' back post header increases visitors' lead with 20 minutes left

Summer signings Andy Yiadom and David Meyler were named in the starting eleven to make their Madejski Stadium bow, while Sam Walker and Marc McNulty were named amongst the substitutes - as was Jon Dadi Bodvarsson for the first time in our pre-season preparations.

After a subdued start to the game, the first real opening came through the pace of Mo Barrow, bursting down the left, beating a couple of men and then getting a low cross in which almost found Yakou Meite at the near post, looking to toe the ball home.

Moments later, Palace had their first sight of goal. Andros Townsend received the ball in space on the right side of the box. He cut inside onto his left boot and drilled low at goal - but it was easy for Mannone to gobble it up on his goalline.

Reading threatened on the break with 18 minutes gone, Barrow darting through midfield after a corner had been comfortably cleared. He fed Meite who was forced wide, but he skidded a low cross into the middle which Wayne Hennessey had to come out to smother.

Some good defending at the other end saw McShane get to a low cross from the right ahead of Wilfried Zaha in the six yard box. Then Gunter did well to head the ball wide of the goal with Sorloth breathing down his neck, chasing after a ball over the top.

Barrow on the break was Reading's main outlet but given the chance to run at James Tomkins he stumbled, allowing the Palace defender to intecerpt the counter attack on the half hour mark.

With a little more than ten minutes of the first half remaining, the Eagles broke the deadlock. Zaha got a yard on Yiadom and wrapped his left boot around the ball on the byline to cut a cross back to Sorloth who hammered a left-footed strike high into the net from close range.

Roy Hodgson's men were looking for a second before half-time and a cross from the left dropped to James McArthur whose stabbed effort had no power in it and was easy for Mannone to gather in.

Liam Kelly embarked on a mazy run into the Palace half soon after, winning a free kick as he was cynically bundled over 25 yards out. Swift stood over the free-kick but his strike didn't have enough dip on it to trouble Hennessey.

Sorloth almost got a second when some intricate passing inside the Royals box released the forward, but his hurried shot was dragged across the face of goal and out for a throw in the end.

Half-time: Reading 0-1 Crystal Palace

Three minutes into the second half and Palace had a second. Patrick Van Aanholt collected a one two down the left flank and cut a low cross into the near post where Zaha was on had to direct it home with an angled finish.

Reading so nearly responded immediately, Barrow scurrying into the box, passing the ball central to Swift who took a touch to control it and then shot, left-footed, but it took a slight deflection which was enough to see it whistle wide.

Soon after, some sublime skill from Kelly on the right wing began a Reading attack which almost ended with Kelly sliding in to connect with a drilled cross-shot from Omar Richards - but Kelly couldn't get a toe to the ball and Palace's two-goal cushion remained in tact.

A glancing Van Aanholt header took a flaoted Richards cross away from Aluko to concede a corner. And from that set piece, Ilori connected but headed straight at Hennessey.

Zaha proved a constant threat, volleying just wide from a good Van-Wissaka cross from the right. And he soon had his second - a fabulous strike that fizzed past Mannone's full stretch dive to his left.

Substitite Böðvarsson strode into the Eagles area soon after coming off the bench but his left-footed shot was charged down by Sakho. And Palace soon had a fourth when Tomkins headed home at the back post to hand the Premier League side a handsome margin of victory.

Bodvarsson and McNulty combined well to nearly set the latter through on goal and then McNulty nearly got on the end of a cross from the right, but couldn't get the touch he needed to get off the mark at the Madejski.

In injury time, McNulty nearly nicked a consolation but a fine save from the onrushing Hennessey denied our new signing.

Today Premier League opponents were too good. But the Royals still have plenty of work to do ahead of Friday's season kick-off.

The game against Roy Hodgson's side will be our last chance to test ourselves ahead of an opening Championship encounter against Frank Lampard's Derby County.

Tickets are just £10 for adults and £5 for 65 & Over as well as thos aged 17 and under! Seating will be unreserved in the East and West Lower Stands, so come along and see us in action on home turf for the first time this season!

Further Information

Season Ticket holders who purchase for this game will have their card loaded (irrespective of which stand they sit in / purchase in)

Member Card holders who purchase for this game will have their card loaded

Supporters who have not renewed their 2018/19 Season Tickets can contact the Ticket Office to claim their free Member Card

Any paper tickets purchased before 3pm on Friday 26th July will be posted to you, unless you select the collection option when purchasing. Tickets will then be held for collection from the Main Ticket Office at Madejski Stadium